Network Rail route closed at Chipping Sodbury due to flooding

Monday, January 8, 2024

A major railway route has been closed after a purpose-built flood lagoon was unable to protect the tracks.

The line between Bristol Parkway and Swindon has been closed at Chipping Sodbury due to flooding.

It was closed on Monday following heavy rainfall Network Rail said.

The lagoon was installed in 2018 as part of a flood alleviation scheme designed to improve the resilience of the railway line, which had been prone to flooding.

Network Rail said it does not want to let the water out of the lagoon as they are concerned it could flood nearby properties.

Julie Gregory from Network Rail said the prolonged and relentless period of rainfall meant they could not safely empty it to reduce water on the tracks.

She said that in 2018 they invested £5m in a railway resilience scheme where they installed a large lagoon which has a capacity of 11 million litres.

It holds the water, reduces the amount of time the line is closed and in some cases prevents it closing altogether.

With climate change we know that this sort of event is going to happen more frequently, so one of the a number of different potential options that we’re looking at is a bigger lagoon.

Network Rail is working with the Environment Agency and others to look at what their options are to protect the resilience of this railway line into the future.

Trains scheduled to travel through the area have been diverted. The train service provider warned passengers to check before they travel as journey times may take a little longer than usual.

« Back to Page

• DB Cargo’s Class 66 Locomotive Begins Dynamic Testing in Britain’s with New Digital Signalling System

• Local musicians to showcase their talents at Leeds station

• Easter weekend to face rail disruption across London

• Network Rail invests to rebuild a major railway bridge

• West Highland Line will close for nine days